Replacement factory rod bearings?

donnyblaze1 · 05-02-2019, 07:04 PM

My '08 just hit the 100k milestone, and to celebrate I'm getting her some new rod bearings. I've talked with three reputable shops in my area and have received some pretty wide-ranging quotes for the job, so I'd love some input as I decide which way to go.

One very well-known shop gave me what I consider a decent price for BE bearings + BE-ARP bolts. A second shop assured me that since I don't regularly track the car and have no plans to go FI, that I'd be fine to go with factory bearings...the price for this option is fantastic, significantly cheaper than I expected. The third shop quoted me about $1k more than I expected for treated factory bearings...so they're pretty much out of the running on cost alone.

I've searched the forums, but didn't turn up much in the way of opinions on factory replacement rod bearings. Has anyone gone this route? Is it a reasonable path forward, or should I just spend the extra cash and go BE?

Appreciate any insight you guys can lay on me!

roastbeef · 05-02-2019, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donnyblaze1

A second shop assured me that since I don't regularly track the car and have no plans to go FI, that I'd be fine to go with factory bearings...the price for this option is fantastic, significantly cheaper than I expected.

this shop doesn't understand the nature of the problem. if they are way underbidding, they probably don't understand the amount of work involved.

6ixSpd · 05-02-2019, 08:32 PM

A quick search would tell you *WHY* the factory bearings are a problem. Thus, it would directly allow one to infer that replacing them with the same does absolutely nothing to address it.

yidgyi · 05-02-2019, 08:42 PM

Don't replace it with the factory stuff. BE + ARP bolts and call it a day.

donnyblaze1 · 05-02-2019, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yidgyi

Don't replace it with the factory stuff. BE + ARP bolts and call it a day.

Yeah, that's definitely the route that's seeming most prudent. The old adage of buy once, cry once usually holds true!

donnyblaze1 · 05-02-2019, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

A quick search would tell you *WHY* the factory bearings are a problem. Thus, it would directly allow one to infer that replacing them with the same does absolutely nothing to address it.

Got it, sorry for wasting your time! I'll do more inferring in the future.

deansbimmer · 05-03-2019, 09:51 AM

It's not a job to give the lowest bidding shop. That's asking for problems. It may seem like a straight forward "parts swapping" type job but at our shop we get cars in every month that other "reputable" shops have screwed up.

Pick a shop that can discuss the issue with intelligence, experience, and specific examples. Do your homework here, there are literally thousands of posts on the subject. Use BE, ACL, or other bearing that addresses the clearance issues.

Read about the core issue and options at https://www.bebearings.com/Overview.html

05-02-2019, 07:04 PM	#1
donnyblaze1 Private First Class 182 Rep 103 Posts Drives: F80 M3 ZCP Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL iTrader: (0)	Replacement factory rod bearings? My '08 just hit the 100k milestone, and to celebrate I'm getting her some new rod bearings. I've talked with three reputable shops in my area and have received some pretty wide-ranging quotes for the job, so I'd love some input as I decide which way to go. One very well-known shop gave me what I consider a decent price for BE bearings + BE-ARP bolts. A second shop assured me that since I don't regularly track the car and have no plans to go FI, that I'd be fine to go with factory bearings...the price for this option is fantastic, significantly cheaper than I expected. The third shop quoted me about $1k more than I expected for treated factory bearings...so they're pretty much out of the running on cost alone. I've searched the forums, but didn't turn up much in the way of opinions on factory replacement rod bearings. Has anyone gone this route? Is it a reasonable path forward, or should I just spend the extra cash and go BE? Appreciate any insight you guys can lay on me!
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05-02-2019, 08:32 PM	#3
6ixSpd Save the manuals! 6015 Rep 6,746 Posts Drives: '16 M3, '23 718 Spyder Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: 416 iTrader: (4)	A quick search would tell you WHY the factory bearings are a problem. Thus, it would directly allow one to infer that replacing them with the same does absolutely nothing to address it. __________________ '16 M3 \| '23 718 Spyder Past: E92 M3, F87 M2, E39 M5, etc
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05-02-2019, 08:42 PM	#4
yidgyi ///M 237 Rep 703 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 M3 ZCP Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	Don't replace it with the factory stuff. BE + ARP bolts and call it a day. __________________ Follow me on IG: dre.pt
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05-03-2019, 09:51 AM	#7
deansbimmer BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 3751 Rep 2,907 Posts Drives: 2011 E93 M3 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: DFW, Texas iTrader: (17) Garage List 1988 BMW M3 [0.00] 2013 BMW M3 [0.00] 2011 X5M [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	It's not a job to give the lowest bidding shop. That's asking for problems. It may seem like a straight forward "parts swapping" type job but at our shop we get cars in every month that other "reputable" shops have screwed up. Pick a shop that can discuss the issue with intelligence, experience, and specific examples. Do your homework here, there are literally thousands of posts on the subject. Use BE, ACL, or other bearing that addresses the clearance issues. Read about the core issue and options at https://www.bebearings.com/Overview.html
	Appreciate 2 SYT_Shadow11490.00 gfisher99287.00 Quote